How to measure cholesterol
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) recommends all adults have a cholesterol check at any age, even if they feel completely well.
It should be repeated every five years – or more often if the test was abnormal.
Your GP might suggest having a test if they think your cholesterol level could be high as a result of your age, weight or another condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Although testing the over 40s age group may seem a priority, Dr Lee said it is important to test young adults.
She explained: “One in 250 of the UK population will have familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – a genetic condition that results in high cholesterol levels (usually raised LDL cholesterol).
“This needs to be diagnosed at a young age and treated appropriately to stop you from developing heart disease at a young age.
“If you have close relatives who have had heart disease at a young age, this should alert you to having a medical check-up and a cholesterol test because a close family history is an important risk factor for heart disease.”